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 FROM
SHRI C.B. SATPATHY'S MESSAGE
……“When one links devotional
or religious activities, like visiting a temple, with the
failure of one’s son or the sickness of one’s wife so directly,
it surely proves that prayers to the Deity or Guru are not
with any other higher intention than simply to be saved from
all the troubles and tribulations of life. Such limited type
of devotion is an attempt to achieve desirable results and
not spiritually experience the Deity or Guru. Such people,
at times, leave the path when their wishes are not fulfilled.
They do not understand that the effects of the actions of
the previous lives also manifest in this life. Sudden and
unforeseen incidents particularly, are the results of the
Prarabdha i.e. actions of the last lives. Unwise people do
not want to accept the unhappy results of their own sinful
actions. They aspire only for desirable and good results to
all their actions, good or bad. When in distress, one feels
miserable thinking that others are not facing the same troubles,
but one forgets the brighter aspects of one’s life with the
sad aspects of the lives of others.
Unhappiness creates such
illogical thoughts in the mind. Such limited thinking is like
an attempt to stand on the Earth and calculate the number
of hills on the Moon.
As written in Shri Sai
Satcharitra, Baba has advised such people in the following
manner:-
“The reactions to the actions of past lives have to be tolerated
in this life”
“As you sow so you reap……………….”
“You must surely tolerate
the happy and unhappy results of your past actions. In case
such reactions are not complete in one life, then rebirth
will take place……….”
“I do every thing for
one who remembers Me always with faith and patience………...”
Sadguru Sai had also promised
that “I shall help you to bear the reactions to all your past
actions easily, if your faith and patience in Me is unflinching”.
Many such examples can be found in Shri Satcharitra.
Sadgurus do not break
the laws of nature, but they manipulate the Natural Laws in
such a manner, that their faithful devotees can face the ordeals
of life rather easily.
Therefore, let our New
Year prayers to Baba be thus,
“Oh Master, the ocean of compassion, we promise to destroy
the results of our Prarabdha Karmas of the past lives by bearing
them in this life, but we request You to control our inner
thoughts in such a manner that, knowingly or unknowingly,
we do not repeat those sinful activities. ”…….
FROM
"LIFE OF SAI BABA" BY NARASIMHA SWAMI
……“This means
that we should be content with the lot assigned to us by God.
Faith is best and perfect when it recognises that Sai is God,
and that Sai’s utterances are never wrong or false. Such a
faith can conquer mountains and that is what we should have.
We should be strong minded enough to brush aside contemptuous
remarks of people (ignorant though well meaning people who
refer to our faith as blind faith). For instance, when Kaka
Saheb lost his practice and when under the very nose of Baba
his daughter died people could not appreciate his Sai bhakti.
Even Anna Saheb Dabolkar thought first ‘If Sai Baba could
not save Dixit’s daughter at Shirdi, what is the good of a
Guru?’ One might as well say, ‘When my dear ones die, what
is the good of God?’ Faith is not a guarantee that there will
be no death evil in the world, nor pains in life. But as in
the above case, intense faith makes the devotee brace himself
up against all inevitable calamities, and learn more and more
of God’s scheme for our life, that life is not intended to
be a bed of roses and a treasure house of wealth or total
avoidance of poverty. Faith enables the devotee to see what
life is and what God’s plan is, and improve one’s own attitude
to life. We are God’s slaves and surrendered instruments.
God (Guru-God) is doing the best for us in the circumstances,
and we should never murmur, but maintain peace of mind. The
numerous ways in which the soul and its faculties expand are
outlined in Dixit’s life and other devotees’ lives. We should
recommend our readers to start by perfect surrender and perfect
faith in Baba’s assurances to the surrendered. Dixit always
felt that Baba, as assured by Him, was supporting him, was
behind him always and was looking after all his concerns,
and hence he avoided fear and anxiety. We recommend the same
attitude to our readers. Who will surrender and believe? Who
will surrender his Tan, Man, Dhan, i.e., body, soul and possessions,
and believe in Baba’s assurances of complete protection and
also in Baba’s perpetual presence, and his watching and guiding
us and being ever ready to appear before us, if necessary?
These assurances of Baba, our Gurudeva, are the same as the
assurances given in Dwapara Yuga through the mouth of Lord
Krishna¬ –
Ananyaas chintayanto
maam ye janaah paryupaasate
Teshaam nityaabhi yuktaanaam yogakshemam vahaamyaham
That is, ‘if you completely surrender yourself and concentrate
on Me and Me alone, if you are ever intent on Me, then I shall
guard what you have and give what you require’. Baba says,
‘If one devotes his entire mind to Me and rests in Me, he
need fear nothing for body and soul. If one sees Me and Me
alone and listens to talk about Me and is devoted to Me alone,
he will reach God (Chaitanya)’.”……
DEVOTEE
EXPERIENCE
Baba’s Blessings
in the Path of My Life
In fact Baba has always
been with me, though I did not realize this. I was in Andhra
and my husband was about to come home on vacation. He was
working in JNV Andaman. Just before leaving he felt some trouble
cropping up and started feeling a severe head ache. One week
passed. The day he was to leave, he reached Port Blair to
travel with all his colleagues and their families in a ship.
He was feeling too sick, so he struggled to decide whether
he was going to be safe for three days in a ship?
I never knew his condition
was so serious. Something made me go to the Shirdi Sai temple
where I did archana in his name. He decided to fly and landed
in Chennai and admitted himself to a hospital. He called his
brother and when he reached his hometown he was totally sick.
The doctors gave a list of complaints kidney, lung, blood,
malaria, decrease of blood platelets-hence loss of hope. We
prayed continuously. Within two days he was out of danger
– which was not even in the hands of doctor. It was Baba who
understood me, my feelings, and my loss and restored my husband
safe and sound.
R. Aruna , Visakhapatnam
Share your experience,
articles poems etc.
POEM
The Secret
One day, one friend asked another,
"How is it that you are always so happy?
You have so much energy,
and you never seem to get down."
With her eyes smiling, she said,
"I know the Secret!"
"What secret is that?"
To which she replied,
"I'll tell you all about it,
but you have to promise to
share the Secret with others."
"The Secret is this:
I have learned there is little I can do in my life that will
make me truly happy.
I must depend on God to make
me happy and to meet my needs.
When a need arises in my life,
I have to trust God to supply
according to His riches.
I have learned most of the time
I don't need half of what I think I do.
He has never let me down.
Since I learned that 'Secret', I am happy."
The questioner's first thought was,
"That's too simple!"
But upon reflecting over her own life
She recalled how she thought a bigger house would make her
happy, but it didn't!
She thought a better paying job
would make her happy, but it hadn't.
When did she realize her greatest happiness?
Sitting on the floor with her grandchildren, playing games,
eating pizza or reading a story, a simple gift from God.
Now you know it too!
We can't depend on people to make us happy.
Only GOD in His infinite wisdom can do that.
Trust Him!
And now I pass the Secret on to you!
So once you get it, what will you do?
You have to tell someone the Secret, too!
That God in His wisdom will take care of You!
But it's not really a secret...
We just have to believe it and do it...
Really trust God!
Jai Sai Ram
Dear Devotees .... please read and remember that blessings
come in small everyday things which we often tend to overlook
!!
May our Lord Sai bless us all with Wisdom.
Vrinda Kumar, Delhi
Share your experience,
articles poems etc.
DEVOTEES' FORUM
The chela was slaving away attending all his needs of the
guru and the guests who visited him. One day the chela thought
that guru's job is simple as he was sitting and doing nothing.
The guru understood the mind of chela and suggested an errand.
The chela was asked to carry a closed box and deliver it to
another guru in a different valley. When he returned after
completing the mission, the guru would vacate his seat for
the chela. The chela was excited and ran to get the mission
done. While trying to find the other guru he got exhausted.
He was tempted to find out what was in the box. He opened
the box and the mouse ran away. He felt humble and returned
to the guru accepting his defeat that he could not control
his mind.
So he will be chela to one who has mastered the mind. After
a long time the chela had become guru. Moral: One who knows
how to control the mind and surrenders to the supreme is fit
to be a Guru
Jagannathan
Padmanabhan, USA
Pranams to Shirdi Baba.
This world is Mayaajaalena Mohitam. Only those who have experienced
this in their own life can understand the influence of maya
in everyday life.
The moment the desired will and target in mind is attained,
we say God has helped. The moment the expected advantages
fail to get accomplished, dejection is the result.
It is at this moment, the Great Guru comes to instill in us
the righteous path.
Eeswara Prerana Aajnaa. None lives inactive.
Willingly or unwillingly/unwittingly,
everyone does something. When the mind sets out on its journey
in absolute surrender to reach the great Guru (like Arjuna
before Lord Krishna) and pleads for instructions about the
righteous path and actions, which He deems fit to be taken
in the battlefield (of life) then there dawns in his mind
a spark of intuition leading him to initiate action. The results
of such directions will be fair, just and pleasing to one
and all.
T R Meenakshinatha
Iyer, Trivandrum
We always end up end justifying
our actions on one pretext or the other. The root of all such
actions and reactions invariably is the attraction of Maya.
No wonder saints called it mahathagni. Many intelligent people,
hard working and helpful and having pleasant disposition succumb
to the temptation. All the actions done while performing one's
duty have to be done with a sense of detachment for personal
gains, which are materialistic and motivated. Alas we the
mortal beings keep falling in the ditch of Maya more often
than required. Sai helps us when we dedicate all our energy
and action to Him with clean conscience and selfless motive.
Maya the illusionary power is no doubt most difficult to be
won over.
JAI SAI - Be with us always to support and guide.
Suman, New Delhi
Share
your feelings about Shirdi Sai in Devotees’ Forum
READER'S REFLECTION
I really like the magazine. Everything about it is amazing.
All my queries are answered through this book. I feel very
light after reading this magazine.
Rahem, Delhi
It is difficult
to pen one's overwhelming thoughts, experiences and feelings
about Baba. This magazine brings, personally to me a sudden
awakening to make me alert and live in the present by concentrating
on Baba. In the workplace when I get the copy on my computer,
it changes me. Every time is a new time with Baba. It makes
me wonder how much HE suffers for all of us, small and mean
mortals. I am practicing total submission every moment and
would continue to learn that throughout my life. That is what
I am living for. Can there be a bigger/higher Yoga than this?
I am what I am because of Him. This magazine, time and again,
reinforces the thought in me. I am a reader who is trying
to be a meditative reader and I think the magazine helps me
a lot.
Charudutta Panigrahi,
Delhi
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Reader's Reflection
NEWS
OF SHIRDI SAI ACTIVITIES
SHIRDI SAI BABA
SANSTHAN, CANADA
Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan,
Canada holds Satsang on Thursdays and third Sunday of every
month at Gur Mandir, 207 Queen’s Plate, Toronto (Etobicoke).
For other Details call 416-294-4804 or visit http://www.shirdisainath.org/
THE RESOURCE CENTRE
Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan,
Canada is pleased to announce the establishment of it's first
Resource Centre in Woodbridge, Toronto. All visits are by
appointment only. Shri Sai Satcharita is available in all
languages. The Resource Centre is open Monday to Friday between
10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Location: Maple Crest Private School -
28 Roytech Rd. Woodbridge, On L4L 8E4 Ph: 905 - 652-6666.
For other Details call 416-294-4804 or visit http://www.shirdisainath.org/
SHIRDI SAI MANDIR, TORONTO, CANADA
The Shirdi Sai Mandir located at 2721 Markham Road, Toronto,
Ontario, M1X 1L5 (Intersection of Markham and Nashdene) is
open through out the day on Saturday, Sunday and holidays
and in the morning and evenings on all weekdays. Baba's Kakad
Aarti, Abhishek Puja, Madhyan Aarti, Dhoop Aarti, Satcharita
Reading and Shej Aarti are performed every day. Bhajans and
Sai Naam Sankirtan in the evening on Thursday and Saturday.
For information regarding the daily schedule, temple activities
and events please visit Mandir's website: http://www.theshirdisaimandir.com/
or send an email to info@theshirdisaimandir.com
or call 647-444-4724.
SHIRDI SAI PARIVAR
VANCOUVER
Shirdi Sai parivar in
Vancouver holds Satsang on Thursday (6.30-7.30pm)and Sai abhishek
and aarti first Sunday of every month at 8571, 118A St, Delta,
V4C 6L2. For further details contact (604) 592 4182 or email,
say.sai.sai@gmail.com.
SHRI SHIRDI SAI
SANSTHAN LOS ANGELES
By the grace of our Shirdi
Sai we are happy to announce the inauguration of Shri Shirdi
Sai Temple in LA region in the city of Montebello. We need
the support of all Sai Devotees. For more information please
email krishna@shirdisaila.org
SHIRDI SAI CENTER,
BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA
Location: 897-B E. Kifer
Rd, Sunnyvale, CA - 94086
Daily timings and activities:
Weekdays:
6:15 am – 7:40 am: Abhishekam and Kakad Arathi at 6:30 am
11.45 am – 12:30 pm: Madhyan Arathi at 12:00 pm
6:00 pm – 9:30 pm: Dhoop Arathi at 6:30 pm and Shej Arathi
at 8:30 pm
Weekends:
6:15 am – 7:40 am: Kakad Arathi at 6:30 am
11:00 am – 9:30 pm: Madhyan Arathi at 12:00 pm, Dhoop Arathi
at 6:30 pm and Shej Arathi at 8:30 pm
Every Thursday:
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Shirdi Sai Bhajans
For more information please
call 408-705-7904 / 408-564-6704 or send email to saibandhu@yahoo.com
or visit our website at http://www.Shirdisaiparivaar.org
SHRI SHIRDI SAI
SAMAJ MALAYSIA
No.744-1, Tingkat 1,
Jln. Sentul Selatan, Sentul, 51000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
This is a new Shirdi Baba center in malaysia. We conduct weekly
prayers/arathi at the following times:
Friday - 7pm - 10.30pm
Sunday - Noon - 2.30pm
Our official centre website
is http://saisamaj.blogspot.com
For more information, please email hyperkinetix@gmail.com
PERSATUAN SHIRDI SAI BABA SELANGOR, MALAYSIA
This is to inform all of you that we have a Shirdi Sai Baba
Temple in Malaysia. Here we have daily prayers and special
prayers on thursday mornings 9.00am and bhajans and satsang
from 8 pm onwards. Also breakfast, lunch and dinner, cooked
by our seva-group is provided to all devotees. other than
that first thursday of the month we have talk on spirituality,
second thursday on health, third thursday satsang on Sai Satcharitra,
fourth thursday talk on general topics, by experts in the
respective fields. Lot of charitable activities are conducted
by our Centre,like sponsoring immediate services to childrens\'
homes, old-folks homes, sick and needy, etc. etc.
If
any devotee, from Malaysia or Singapore likes to join our
Centre, please contact Mr.SP Kannan at Mobile -012-2739486;
usha - 006122392911; Res: 03-33717540. Our Centre address
is : Persatuan Shirdi Sai Baba Selangor, No.2574, Jalan Seruling
59, Taman Klang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.Thank you and Sai
Ram.
SHIRDI SAI TEMPLE
SINGAPORE
The dream of having a
full fledged exclusive Shirdi Sai Temple in Singapore, will
soon come true. Thanks to the efforts of a Sai devotee in
making this happen. The Shirdi Sai Baba Centre in Singapore
is now live with the 3rd floor function hall, Sri Vadapathira
Kaliamman temple, being secured and converted to a full fledged
exclusive Shirdi Sai worship centre. The Centre will be devoted
to celebrating the life & teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba
only. For more information visit our website http://www.saisansthan.com
SHIRDI SAI BABA
SANSTHAN, AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND
Bhajans Every Thursday
Venue Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall, 13 May Road, Mt Roskill,
Auckland
7.00 pm - 7.50 pm Sai
Bhajans,
7.50 pm - 8.10 pm Pravachan and Sai Ashtotharam
8.10 pm - 8.30 pm Shej Aarthi
8.30 pm - 9.00 pm Prasad distribution.
For more details Contact us Amar Alluri(President) Mobile:
(+64) 27 230 5360 Email: President@shirdisaibaba.org.nz
or Sai Krishna Tridandapani (Secretary) Mobile: (+64) 21 239
7907 Email: Secretary@shirdisaibaba.org.nz
Address: Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of NZ, P.O. Box: 16142,
Sandringham, Auckland, New Zealand. Visit our website www.shirdisaibaba.org.nz
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